NRA-L-000076 / 1856

Letter from Grandmama Rolier, née Benielli, to Gustave de Reiset, May 30, 1856

An elderly family correspondent expresses affection for Gustave and Bianca and hopes to see more descendants; a later family note identifies her as Grandmama Rolier, née Benielli.

Neruda Archives
NRA-L-000076

NRA-L-000076 image 1 showing an Italian manuscript letter on folded paper.
Image 1Letter text.
NRA-L-000076 image 2 showing the reverse with a brief manuscript note, embossed marks, folds, and text showing through the paper.
Image 2Reverse with brief note and embossed marks.

Transcript and English translation

working scholarly aid

Letter text

Original transcript

Pariggi il 30 mag
1856

Desiderate mio caro figlio
che vi scriva alcune righe,
ma cosa potrò dirvi di più
di quel vi ho detto; si vi
dirò dunque che vi amo del
più profondo del mio cuore
se la mia cara Bianca vivendo
felice sarà per me in questo
mondo una parte della
felicità celeste. ma non mi
presserò di fare il viaggio,
per che disidero di vedere
di godere due o tre figli e;
anche, quattro; e mi pare
di non essere troppo esigente
di domandare a Dio questa
grazia. vi abbraccio tutte
due mille volte; e più se lo
desiderate, per rendervi
contente. sono la vostra
affezionata Madre e gran
madre e, bisaiola ve Rolier

Letter text

English translation

Paris, 30 May 1856.
You wish, my dear son, that I should write you a few lines; but what more can I tell you than I have already said? Yes, I shall tell you once more that I love you from the depths of my heart.
If my dear Bianca lives happily, it will be for me in this world a part of heavenly happiness. But I will not hasten to make the journey, because I wish to see two or three children and take joy in them—even four—and it seems to me that I am not too demanding in asking God for this grace.
I embrace you both a thousand times, and still more if you wish it, to make you happy. I am your affectionate mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother,
Widow Rolier.

Later family record

Original transcript

de Grand maman Rolier née Benielli à son arrière petit fils Gustave de Reiset le 30 mai 1856.

Later family record

English translation

[Grandmama Rolier, née Benielli, to her great-grandson Gustave de Reiset. 30 May 1856.]

Discovery Terms

  • Family correspondence
  • Grandmothers
  • Great-grandparents
  • Descendants
  • Paris

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